Man, the Plaza books "Star Wars" (see last blog item) and now KLAQ is bringing in a giant Darth Vader balloon for Balloonfest '09.
Is this some kind of collusion or just a Jedi mind trick?
The Vader helmet balloon — all 86-feet high, 21-feet wide and 78-feet deep — will be the biggest attraction at the 24th annual event, which takes places at Grace Gardens (the new launch site) and Anthony's Wet 'N' Wild Waterworld over Memorial Day Weekend (May 23-25).
Of course, concerts are a big part of this, too, and this year's shows feature the usual batch of up-and-comers and near has-beens.
In the former category are Trapt and Crooked X (the Oklahoma rockers who finished second on the "Living Room Live" contest on CBS' "The Early Show" at 6 p.m. May 23.
Rev Theory, who just opened for Avenged Sevenfold and Buckcherry at the Pan Am, are paired with Burn Halo (who've been here a couple of times) for the 6 p.m. May 24 concert.
So far, Hoobastank has been announced for the 5:30 p.m. May 25 show. The band, which peaked in 2003 with "The Reason," is touring new album "For(n)ever," from which new single "So Close So Far" recently was released. They're not has-beens just yet, but they aren't getting the kind of airplay they were a few years ago.
Tickets go on sale May 1 at 7-11/Fina stores in El Paso and Pik-Quick in Las Cruces. They're $15, plus tax, which include a ticket to a concert and a one-day ride pass. A festival pass is going to cost you $4.95, plus tax, but includes a season pass to the waterpark, where the concerts will take place on the Budweiser Concert Stage.
There are more lavish packages available, that include VIP passes, choice access to the balloon launches and more. They're going for $2,000 through May 12, $2,500 from May 13-19 and $3,000 starting May 20.
Info: klaq.com, 544.9450; wetwild.com, 886.2222.
In other concert news:
• Little Joe Y La Familia, Jimmy Edward with the River City Band and Rhapsody headline Tejano Legends IV on July 17 at the Plaza Theatre. Hey, didn't we just have the third one of those? Yes, we did. It was last month, with Ruben Ramos and Sonny Ozuna.
Little Joe Hernandez, who has a promoting stake in the shows, knows a good thing when he sees it. These things sell out! Tickets are $21.50, $36.50, $46.50 and $56.60 (first four rows), on sale at 10 a.m. May 1 at Ticketmaster outlets, the box office, ticketmaster.com and 800.745.3000.
• Speaking of Tejano legends, Sonny Ozuna, who co-headlined the last one in March, will play the new Club News (the old Blu) at 209 S. El Paso at 8 p.m. May 8. Tickets are 20 bucks at All That Music & Video and, presumably, at the door if it's not sold out by then. The club's number is 633.6999. I couldn't find anything on their MySpace page about it. This announcement came from promoter Francisco Cabral.
• The cool, free music series with the unwieldy name — the Rudolph Chevrolet-Honda 2009 Live Music Series at the State Line — which opens today (April 22) with Roger Creager — has revised and bulked up its previously announced schedule of local rock and Texas country acts, dropping Cross Canadian Ragweed's Cody Canada, but adding folks like Cory Morrow.
Here's a rundown:
April 22 — Roger Creager
April 29 — Radio La Chusma
(May 6 — Roger Clyne and the Peacemakers are listed on Pollstar, but not the official schedule)
May 13 — Bleu Edmondson
May 27 — Aaron Watson
June 17 — Zack Walther and the Cronkites (new)
June 24 — Cory Morrow (new)
July 1 — Stoney LaRue (replaces a solo stop by Cross Canadian Ragweed's Cody Canada)
July 15 — Band of Heathens (new)
The series runs through August. All shows are at 8 p.m. on the patio at the restaurant, 1222 Sunland Park Drive. Patrons are asked to bring non-perishable canned food or monetary donations for the West Texas Food Bank.
Info: 581.3371.
• Another Texas songwriter, Ryan Bingham, and his band Dead Horses, will play Whiskey Dicks on May 1. He's releasing his second album, "Roadhouse Sun," on June 1, two songs of which were performed on their "Austin City Limits" segment in February. Former Black Crowes guitarist Marc Ford is back as producer. He helmed Bingham's debut, "Mescalito." It's a free show, with Bingham going on at 10. Don't forget that Mark Chesnutt is there May 3.
• A quick check of the Pollstar web site reveals a few tidbits, like Mexican pop group Reik June 18 (hey, that's my son's 21st birthday) at the Coliseum, Candlebox playing the Downtown Street Festival on July 3, Del Castillo headlining Music Under the Stars July 12-13 at the Chamizal (they're headlining Take II on April 24), Girl in a Coma (who cut their new album at Sonic Ranch) at Zeppelin's Underground on July 25, War playing the Plaza Theatre on July 31 and Tower of Power at the Chavez Theatre on Oct. 29.
• LA's Nico Vega play Take II on May 11 (Jayden's Playground, Miranda Burning and BB Gun Johnny open), with a $10 cover, while piano-and-drum duo KristeenYoung plays the Percolator on May 28 (Jayden's Playground opens that, too), an all-ages show with a $5 cover.
Doug, I see in the picture you have posted that you read Billboard. Entertaining I'm sure, but not neccesarily the most accurate source of info when it comes to bands and their fans. Everyone loves to see their band succeed, but do we really need to know who is number "whatever" on "whichever" chart? Please don't count on that particular publication to be the "be all/end all" of your fact finding. (granted, you can learn a thing or two about bands there, but (mostly) you learn who sold what, what's selling good where and who is blaming who for said "sales") I've read your columns in the past and, to be honest, you come across as a pretty decent guy. (Though I do see a bit of a pompous, arrogant, psuedo-wanna be/know it all (who "knows" .. well; not much) in you. :) This column kind of got to me though. We can't all be perfect all the time, but please!! If you don't know what you're talking about, look into writing pet show reviews or something. First of all, quit relying on spellcheck and editors (who probably rely on spellcheck as well) to think for you. Aren't grammer, spelling and punctutation things you should learn BEFORE beginning a career in journalism? Anyway, these events will take place at their various venues. Not take placeS. (Extra S there Hombre) You mention up and comers like it's a bad thing. Where else are people going to find new bands? Bands new fans? Up and coming is good!! The "usual bunch of near has beens"??? POD, Saliva, Atreyu?? Are you writing these guys off already? "Near has beens"? Please. Next, Trapt aren't playing the event this year. (Things change. Put down your Billboard and pay attention to what's really happening.)
Moving on, Burn Halo were recently here with Static X ... when were the other times? You said a "couple", I only recall that show. Did I miss something?
Onward ... Hoobastank go on at 6. Not 5:30. As for the "near has been" status, they have several songs that still play regularly. They still pack halls and move discs. People still buy tickets and travel to see them. Distances great and small. I'm not a huuge fan myself, but I'll give them their due. How many venues can you fill?? How many people will wait in line to read your columns? Are you a "near has been"??? You meet the criteria amigo. Your ticket info seems pretty much correct, but can you really get a season pass for $4.95? I think they go for a little more. Then again, what do I know? Not at all sure what you get for 2 grand (and more) but I'll assume you are on the ball there. Maybe. Hopefully anyway. Don't want your readers to ever doubt or question you!! Anyway, you're entitled to your opinion Doug, but do your homework before you write. Stop "Pullen" our legs.
Posted by: Gabby | April 27, 2009 at 12:18 AM